Investigation of environmental aspects of various rubber-based farming systems in Thailand

This study investigates various environmental aspects of different rubber farming systems (i.e. conventional monoculture, integrated rubber-based farming, and agroforestry plantations) across three regions, namely Northeast, East and South in Thailand. These regions are enriched with diverse soil types, weather conditions and a diverse spectrum of agricultural practices. The study conducted a cross-sectional survey in the above-mentioned regions to collect primary data from the selected respondents. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select the samples. A total of 30 representative rubber farmers were interviewed using a structured and standardized questionnaire. In addition, the study employed qualitative methods to assess the environmental aspects of different rubber farming systems. Based on socio-economic and production criteria, the study identified five types of rubber farms, ranging from single-crop para-rubber to highly diversified operations. The analyses revealed that integrated rubber farms and rubber agroforestry farms demonstrated overall better performance compared to rubber monoculture farms, particularly in areas having higher organic matter content, DRC of rubber fresh latex, water holding capacity (WHC), and soil moisture. The study also found that ecosystem service ratings varied widely, with monoculture farms scoring low (1.98) and integrated systems scoring high (4.60). In addition, the study assessed the farmers’ desire/concern toward biodiversity of different rubber farming systems. The farmers expressed significant concern for biodiversity (average score is 4.23 indicating a consensus at the "very much" level). These findings highlight the environmental advantages of integrated rubber farming and agroforestry, emphasizing the need for sustainable, diverse approaches to rubber production in Thailand.